# The Dark Reality of Online Abuse and Stalking in Women's Sports Female athletes face escalating threats, harassment, and body-shaming in the digital age. - **Source:** [Sky Sports – Tennis](https://www.skysports.com/tennis) - **Published:** 2026-11-04 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/651e4d3d-cb4c-4d13-8c1c-3ef6590eed7f ## Escalating Digital Harassment Female athletes are increasingly subjected to severe online abuse, ranging from body-shaming to explicit death threats. Despite historic achievements on the field, such as the Lionesses' Euros victory, many sportswomen face a toxic environment. This digital hostility creates an additional, exhausting layer of pressure that impacts their mental health and professional performance. ## The Cost of Authenticity Rugby player Georgia Evans faced public ridicule simply for wearing hair bows during a match. This incident highlights how critics target women's appearance rather than their athletic ability. While Evans received support from the rugby community, the incident underscores the persistent, irrational scrutiny that female athletes endure regarding their personal presentation. ## Declining Youth Participation Research by Women In Sport indicates that the number of girls dreaming of professional athletic careers has dropped to its lowest level since 2020. Only 23 percent of girls now aspire to sporting glory, compared to 53 percent of boys. Many cite body image concerns and safety fears as primary reasons for avoiding sports. ## Impact on Young Athletes Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli observes that social media significantly damages the mental well-being of teenage athletes. Having faced her own public humiliation after winning Wimbledon in 2013, Bartoli emphasizes that constant judgment regarding appearance can be devastating. She worries that the next generation may struggle to survive such relentless online scrutiny. ## Gambling-Driven Hostility A report from the WTA and ITF revealed that 458 players were direct targets of abuse in 2024. Shockingly, 40 percent of this harassment originates from frustrated gamblers. Players like Lucrezia Stefanini have received death threats, including images of guns, sent directly to their private messaging apps following match results. ## Physical Stalking Risks Beyond digital threats, athletes face physical stalking. Emma Raducanu was forced to deal with a fixated individual who followed her across multiple countries, leading to a restraining order. Similarly, Marion Bartoli experienced a terrifying incident in 2007 where a stalker infiltrated the grounds to follow her during her Wimbledon campaign. ## Tournament-Linked Toxicity FIFA studies show that one in five players at the 2023 Women's World Cup received discriminatory or threatening messages. These athletes were 29 percent more likely to be targeted than participants in the 2022 men's tournament. Such statistics highlight the disproportionate level of hostility directed at women during major global sporting events. ## Monitoring Hostile Content During the 2025 European Championship final, a study by Moonshoot identified 3,000 social media posts containing hostile content directed at the England team. Defender Jess Carter even stepped back from social media due to racist abuse. A 60-year-old man was later sentenced to prison for sending these abusive messages to her. ## Coping Strategies for Athletes Cricket player Sophia Dunkley emphasizes the importance of blocking out the noise by limiting social media interactions. Many athletes now restrict who can comment on their posts and rely on tight-knit team circles for support. These strategies help players maintain focus on their professional goals despite the prevalence of online negativity. ## Regulatory Framework Limitations The Online Safety Act 2023 imposes duties on tech companies, yet critics argue these measures remain insufficient. Sport England Chair Chris Boardroom has formally raised concerns with Ofcom regarding the scale of abuse. There is an ongoing debate about whether current regulatory frameworks can effectively combat the specific threats faced by female athletes. ## Proposed Tech Interventions Ofcom has recommended that tech giants implement stricter measures, such as prompts for users to reconsider harmful messages and stopping payments for posts promoting misogyny. They also suggest allowing users to block multiple accounts simultaneously. These recommendations aim to dismantle the toxic echo chambers that currently facilitate harassment against women and girls. ## The Future of Safety While platforms like Meta offer tools to filter offensive comments and limit interactions, the burden of protection often falls on the athletes themselves. As women's sports continue to grow in popularity, addressing these systemic issues is essential to ensure a safe environment where athletes are judged solely on their performance. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12110/13528888/social-media-abuse-stalking-and-death-threats-why-its-never-just-about-performance-for-our-sportswomen — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._